Global Plastic Production and Its Footprint on Waste Management
Global plastic production surged from about 1.5 million tons in 1950 to roughly 359 million tons by 2018. The trend continues to climb; in 2015 the figure stood at 322 million tons, and forecasts suggested it would push toward 400 million soon after. The industry faced a sharp dip in the first half of 2020 due to the Covid-19 disruption, followed by a rebound in the latter part of the year.
This unstoppable rise in production translates into more plastic waste. In Europe, energy recovery through incineration dominates waste disposal, accounting for about 42.6% of the total. Recycling follows at 32.5%, while landfilling makes up roughly 25% of plastic waste.
Actual recycling rates vary by country within the European Union. The 2018 statistics from the European Parliament highlighted Spain as one of the leaders in per-capita plastic recycling and in overall recycled plastic volume, though a substantial portion of plastic remains non-recyclable.
The European Parliament also noted that, due to capacity and funding gaps, roughly half of the recycled plastic is transported to non-EU countries.
Until recently, a large share of waste was shipped to China for recycling. By 2018, China banned the import of low-quality plastics, often linked to illegal dumping or marine pollution, and several regional neighbors followed suit, limiting Western shipments of plastic waste.
The European Union is pursuing circular and environmentally friendly strategies to reduce incineration and curb landfill accumulation.
The low recycling rate within the EU triggers economic and environmental losses. It is estimated that only about 5% to 10% of the value of plastic packaging materials is retained after the first use.
Scientists project that plastic production and burning emitted around 850 million tonnes of greenhouse gases in 2019. Estimates suggest these emissions could rise to about 2.8 billion tonnes by 2050 unless recycling improves meaningfully.
Problems with Plastic Recycling
A central challenge is the gap between the quality and price of recycled plastics versus virgin materials.
Plastic processors require large, uniformly specified quantities of recycled material at competitive prices.
The diversity of plastic types—each with unique aesthetic or functional requirements—complicates recycling, raises costs, and can degrade the final product’s quality.
Consequently, demand for recycled plastics remains relatively modest, representing around 6% of total European demand in 2018.
Solutions and Targets for 2030
In May 2018, the European Commission advanced a plan to curb plastic waste in the seas. The strategy includes a ban on several single-use plastic items, with certain measures taking effect in 2021, such as straws, cups, plates, and utensils.
The European Green Deal sets concrete targets: by 2030, 55% of plastic packaging waste should be recycled, and all packaging produced should be recyclable or reusable by 2030.
Agriculture and food packaging directives also aim for higher recycled content, with goals like at least 25% recycled material in plastic beverage containers by 2025 and 30% by 2030. This creates pressure on manufacturers to adopt sustainable packaging solutions.
Many companies have already disclosed recycled PET percentages in their containers, ranging from 20% to 100%.
A notable recent development is chemical recycling, which offers a potentially gentler approach to plastic processing. PlasticsEurope, the pan-European plastics association, urged the European Commission to include 30% reused plastic in recycled packaging by 2030. It emphasizes the need to scale up chemical recycling and invest heavily in related infrastructure across Europe.
PlasticsEurope stresses that achieving these goals will require a close collaboration with European institutions and the value chain.
For further context, official data on European plastics policy and recycling trends is provided by the European Parliament and by industry-focused resources cited for informational purposes. (citation: European Parliament) The European plastics industry has published analyses and forecasts to help track progress toward 2030 targets. (citation: PlasticsEurope)
Additional resources discuss regional outcomes and best practices for improving recyclability and reducing environmental impact. (citation: EU Environmental Agency)
Related data and analyses emphasize the ongoing shift in consumer demand toward sustainable packaging and responsible consumption patterns. (citation: EU Market Insights)